Shirley Simons


Thomas Shirley Simons, Sr., commonly known as Shirley Simons was a prominent architect of Tyler, Texas. He was born in 1897 at Taylor, Texas, and raised in Fort Worth, Texas. He graduated from Rice Institute in 1919 with a Bachelor of Science in architecture. He also served in the field artillery during World War I from September through November 1918.
After practicing with William Ward Watkin in Houston, Simons moved to Lufkin, Texas in 1922 where he established his own architecture practice. In the late 1920s, he moved his architectural practice to Tyler, Texas. He remained active as an architect in Tyler until his death in 1963. Shirley's three sons later joined his architectural practice.
A number of Simons' works, including the Tyler City Hall, San Augustine County Courthouse and Jail, and Austin Daily Tribune Building, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Works in Tyler, Texas

  • Tremont Place, 615 Tremont Place, Tyler, TX 75701
  • Bergfeld Park, part of the Azalea Residential Historic District, 1400 Block South Broadway, Tyler, Texas
  • Robert and Mattie Fair House, 905 South Chilton Avenue, Tyler, Texas
  • Hanson-Cooper House, 312 E. Charnwood, Tyler, Texas
  • W. Howard and Vera Bryant House, 2212 South Chilton Avenue, Tyler, Texas
  • Marvin United Methodist Church, 300 W. Erwin St., Tyler, Texas, NRHP-listed
  • Thomas and Edna Pollard House, 801 Troup Highway, Tyler, Texas
  • Ramey House, 605 S. Broadway, Tyler, Texas, NRHP-listed
  • St. Gregory Elementary School, 400 South College Avenue, Tyler, Texas
  • St. John's AF & AM Lodge, 323 W. Front Street, Tyler, Texas, NRHP-listed
  • Shirley Simons Residence, 118 West Fourth, Tyler, Texas
  • Tyler City Hall, 212 N. Bonner Avenue, Tyler, Texas, NRHP-listed
  • Tyler Junior College original campus building plan
  • Tyler Little Theatre, 1014 W. Houston, Tyler, Texas
  • Tyler U.S. Post Office and Courthouse, aka William M. Steger U.S. Courthouse, 211 W. Ferguson Street, Tyler, Texas, NRHP-listed
  • White House, aka The Castle, 116 Lindsey Lane, Tyler, Texas
  • Willow Brook Country Club, 3205 West Erwin Street, Tyler, Texas
  • Witherup Home, 212 West Dobbs Street, Tyler, Texas
  • Woman's Building, 911 South Broadway, Tyler, Texas

Works in Lufkin, Texas

Works in other cities